The NCVO has expressed concerns about government proposals for the new version of the Compact, Compact Plus. Campbell Robb, director of public policy at the NCVO, said voluntary and community organisations needed to become more aware of the Compact and suggested there was a danger that the new version would create confusion.

He suggested the key aim of the new Compact Commissioner should be raising awareness of the Compact and its implementation, rather than trying to set up a new set of initiatives. Robb was speaking at a Local Government Association (LGA) conference held in London on 7 March. He questioned the need to streamline the Compact, as summaries of the undertakings necessary for each code are already available, and stressed the need for the Commissioner to ensure that Compact Plus did not supplant existing Local Compacts, but retained the capacity of Local Compacts to respond to local situations and needs.

“The real issue is getting VCOs to know about the existing Compact, and use it more effectively,” he said. “While we commend the government’s willingness to adapt in order to make the Compact more effective, it is not necessary to reinvent the wheel. The Compact is a fantastic tool, which defines the relationship between VCOs and public bodies. We would urge government, and the new Compact Commissioner, to raise awareness of the Compact and its implementation.”

A Home Office spokesperson responded: “Compact Plus is about building on and improving the Compact, not replacing it. The NCVO is working with us on Compact Plus and we believe this will be of benefit to the Compact. The aim is to produce a clear set of commitments about what the sector can expect from government and what government can expect from the sector. When the Commissioner is appointed they will take that work forward and refine it. We are working very closely with the sector on this, rather than imposing it on them.

“The Compact Commissioner will be leading the work in developing what Compact Plus is going to be about and we hope to appoint the Commissioner soon. They are being appointed in conjunction with the Compact Working Group so that it’s someone the sector can have confidence in as well.”

“The Charity Commission supports the principle of the Compact for those charities that want to work in partnership with government,” said Neal Green, senior policy advisor at the Charity Commission. “For those charities that choose this path you need a framework and a set of rules. The important issue is the commitment of the government and of the voluntary organisations to play by the rules they’ve signed up to. The key issue for charities is that they need to be focused on the mission.

" It’s not just about chasing the funding that is out there but about how this is related to what they do, about maintaining their independence and ensuring that they’re making the decisions about what should be done. Obviously if they’re in a contract then there are stipulations on what they need to do, but it’s about finding the right degree of control. It’s about a spirit of partnership, and I think that’s something both sides are having to learn."

He added: “We are aware of concerns in the sector about local organisations in relation to the move from grants to contracts, and we can’t really take sides. We realise there are issues and we are considering and reviewing our role in encouraging charities and government to get better at this.”

The Charity Commission is hosting a conference addressing the issue of public service delivery in London on 21 March. The conference is already fully booked. See www.charity-commission.gov.uk for more details.